Alligator Records Releases 40th Anniversary Collection

Alligator Records: 40th Anniversary CollectionAlligator Records is celebrating its 40th anniversary by releasing a special 2-disc set showcasing the Chicago-based blues label’s past and present talents, ranging from Koko Taylor to Tinsley Ellis. The 38-track collection is a chockfull of great bass grooves and tones, including the songs “Daddy Pinocchio” by William Clarke, “You Can’t Judge a Book By The Cover” by Roy Buchanan, and Ellis’ “Speak No Evil,” which credits “The Evil One” as the recorded bassist.

Founder Bruce Iglauer started the company after hearing bluesman Hound Dog Taylor in a small bar called Florence’s Lounge on Chicago’s South Side.

“Over the forty years, our definition of ‘Genuine Houserockin’ Music’ has expanded to include not only pure blues artists, but also musicians and songwriters who have taken the spirit of the blues and created their own sounds and styles, sometimes called roots rock or rockabilly or front porch soul or, in a few cases, gospel, the ultimate soul-rockin’ music,” Iglauer explains. “But our mission has remained the same—to record honest, blues-infused music that moves the feet and soothes the soul, and hopefully makes you feel as good as a Sunday afternoon at Florence’s Lounge.”

Preview and download Alligator Records 40th Anniversary:

Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Track List:

  1. Koko Taylor – “I’m A Woman”
  2. Albert Collins – “I Ain’t Drunk”
  3. Michael Burks – “Strange Feeling”
  4. Tommy Castro – “Backup Plan”
  5. Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials – “Icicles In My Meatloaf”
  6. Guitar Shorty – “We The People”
  7. Rick Estrin and the Nightcats – “U B U”
  8. Marcia Ball – “The Party’s Still Going On”
  9. Roomful Of Blues – “That’s A Pretty Good Love”
  10. Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King – “Have Blues, Will Trave”
  11. Son Seals – “Going Home”
  12. Buddy Guy & Junior Wells – “Give Me My Coat And Shoes”
  13. Janiva Magness – “Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love”
  14. Johnny Winter – “Mojo Boogie”
  15. Coco Montoya – “Last Dirty Deal”
  16. Corey Harris – “Fish Ain’t Bitin’”
  17. Luther Allison – “All The King’s Horses”
  18. Anders Osborne – “Echoes Of My Sins”
  19. Lonnie Mack w/Stevie Ray Vaughn – “Double Whammy”
  20. Albert Collins, Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland – “T-Bone Shuffle”
  21. Lonnie Brooks – “Don’t Take Advantage Of Me”
  22. Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater – “A Good Leavin’ Alone”
  23. Hound Dog Taylor – “Sitting At Home Alone”
  24. Elvin Bishop & Little Smokey Smothers – “Roll Your Moneymaker”
  25. James Cotton – “With The Quickness”
  26. Shemekia Copeland – “It’s My Own Tears”
  27. Professor Longhair – “Red Beans”
  28. Charlie Musselwhite – “Where Hwy 61 Runs”
  29. Roy Buchanan – “You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover”
  30. Mavis Staples – “Step Into The Light”
  31. Tinsley Ellis – “Speak No Evil”
  32. Eric Lindell – “It’s A Drag”
  33. Saffire—The Uppity Blues Women – “Going Down To The River”
  34. The Holmes Brothers – “Feed My Soul”
  35. Katie Webster – “Two-Fisted Mama”
  36. William Clarke – “Daddy Pinocchio”
  37. Buckwheat Zydeco – “When The Levee Breaks”
  38. JJ Grey & Mofro – “The Sun Is Shining Down”

Get daily bass updates.

Get the latest news, videos, lessons, and more in your inbox every morning.

Share your thoughts